Senate Bill Should be Tossed Out – Condensed Talking Points

THE SENATE AMNESTY BILL, WHICH PASSED THE SENATE ON JUNE 27th, SHOULD BE TOSSED OUT

The House of Representatives should NOT use the Senate’s amnesty bill as a starting point for discussions. The Senate’s version of “immigration reform” is sufficiently flawed that it should be tossed out. The Senate was not serious about fixing our nation’s broken immigration system, and the incomprehensible 1,100 page bill that they passed is severely flawed.

For all of the reasons listed here, the House must steer clear of going to conference with the Senate’s “Gang of 8” amnesty bill.

The Senate amnesty bill will cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars.

The Senate amnesty bill will lower American workers’ wages over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The Senate amnesty bill fails to close the loopholes that allow legal immigrants (and their dependents) as well as illegal immigrants to access the myriad tax credits, welfare programs and other public assistance programs (despite requirements under the Welfare Reform Act of 1996).

The Senate amnesty bill fails to secure the border and, in fact, will exacerbate existing weaknesses in our national security.

The Senate amnesty bill contains payouts and political favors for special interest groups, including Silicon Valley companies and other big business lobbying groups.

The Senate amnesty bill provides total discretion to the Secretary of Homeland Security to enforce (or not enforce) the bill’s border security provisions (See Section 5(b)(5))

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Senate bill is that it decimates Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an important agency that is responsible for our nation’s interior immigration enforcement. As a result, the Senate amnesty bill is overwhelmingly opposed by ICE officers, who are the ones serving on the front lines to protect our country.